Forcible entry device

ABSTRACT

A forcible entry device or door breaching device for attachment to the muzzle of a rifle or shotgun. The device includes a ram which is driven into the door by the explosive gases discharged from a blank cartridge or shell.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a forcible entry device or a door breachingdevice which may be selectively attached to the muzzle of a weapon suchas a rifle or shotgun.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many types of forcible entry devices or door breaching devices have beenpreviously provided to enable law enforcement personnel or militarypersonnel to quickly gain access into a building, dwelling, etc. havinga doorway which is closed by a door. For example, U.S. Pat. No.6,408,765 discloses a rifle grenade for blasting an object at a shortrange. The rifle grenade of the '765 Patent is not designed to be placeddirectly against the door. Further, the device of the 765 Patentrequires a special grenade. U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,228 discloses a portablehand-held forcible entry device which drives a striker having a tool bitattached thereto. The '228 Patent requires that the barrel of the firingweapon be removed.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,305,788 discloses a device which is attached to thebarrel of a shotgun. The device of the '788 Patent requires that theextension thereof be manually driven through the wall or door. U.S. Pat.No. 5,987,723 requires a special apparatus and cannot be selectivelyattached to the muzzle of a rifle or shotgun.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects oressential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summaryis not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of theclaimed subject matter.

A forcible entry device or door breaching device is disclosed for usewith a weapon such as a rifle or shotgun which is capable of discharginga blank cartridge or shell so that the explosive gases therefrom aredischarged from the muzzle of the barrel thereof into the forcible entrydevice. The forcible entry device includes an elongated tube havingrearward and forward ends with each of the rearward and forward ends ofthe tube having openings formed therein. The tube includes a chamberformed therein which extends between the openings in the rearward andforward ends thereof. The rearward end of the tube is adapted to beselectively secured to the muzzle of the barrel of the weapon so thatthe explosive gases being discharged from the muzzle, upon the firing ofthe cartridge or shell, will pass through the opening in the rearwardend thereof into the chamber. An elongated piston, having rearward andforward ends, is movably mounted between first and second positions inthe chamber. The forward end of the piston extends outwardly from thechamber through the opening in the forward end of the tube.

A ram plate is secured to the forward end of the piston so as to bepositioned outwardly of the forward end of the tube. The ram plate ismovable with the piston between first and second positions. A guidecollar slidably embraces the tube. The device also includes first andsecond elongated guide rods having rearward and forward ends. Therearward ends of the guide rods are secured to the guide collar with theforward ends of the guide rods being secured to the ram plate. Astand-off member is provided which includes a base plate with first andsecond spaced-apart leg portions extending forwardly therefrom. The baseplate has an opening formed therein. The base plate is secured to theforward end of the tube so that the opening in the base plate registerswith the opening in the forward end of the tube so that the pistonextends to pass through the opening in the base plate. An elongatedreturn spring is also provided which has rearward and forward ends. Therearward end of the return spring is secured to the tube adjacent therearward end thereof. The forward end of the return spring is secured tothe ram plate.

The discharge of a blank cartridge or shell by the weapon causes theexplosive gases therefrom to drive the piston from its first positiontowards its second position thereby causing the ram plate to be drivenfrom its first position to its second position forwardly outwardly fromthe stand-off member into the door thereby breaching the same. The tubehas a gas vent opening formed therein which extends from the chamberoutwardly through the tube. The gas vent opening is positioned in thetube whereby the explosive gases in the chamber will be vented from thetube after the rearward end of the piston has passed thereby and reachedits second position. The return spring returns the ram plate from itssecond position to its first position after the door has been breached.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide animproved forcible entry device or door breaching device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed which is adapted to be selectively secured to the muzzle ofthe barrel of a rifle or shotgun.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed which is safe and convenient to use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention aredescribed with reference to the following figures, wherein likereference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various viewsunless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a rifle having theflash arrester removed therefrom so that the device of this inventionmay be attached to the muzzle of the rifle;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the forcible entry device of thisinvention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the forcible entry device ofthis invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the forcible entry device of thisinvention mounted on the muzzle of the rifle;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional and elevational view illustrating theforcible entry device of this invention placed against the exteriorsurface of a door; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 except that the weapon has beendischarged to force the ram of the device through the door therebybreaching the same.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to theaccompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way ofillustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments aredisclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as being limited to theembodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is,therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of thepresent invention is defined only by the appended claims.

The numeral 10 refers to a weapon such as a rifle which may be an AR-15,AK-47, etc. A shotgun could be used in place of the rifle 10 if sodesired. Rifle 10 includes a barrel 12 having an externally threadedmuzzle 14 which is adapted to have a device 16 secured thereto. Device16 is sometimes termed a muzzle brake, flash arrestor, flash hider orcompensator. The numeral 18 refers to a blank cartridge which iscrimpled at 20 to maintain the powder therein.

The numeral 22 refers to the forced entry device or door breachingdevice of this invention. Device 22 includes an elongated tube 24 havinga rearward end 26 and a forward end 28. Tube 24 is hollow so as todefine an internal chamber or bore 30. Tube 24 is provided with aninternally threaded portion 32 at end 26 which is adapted to threadablyreceive the externally threaded muzzle 14 of rifle 10 as seen in FIG. 4.Tube 24 has a gas discharge vent 34 formed therein which communicateswith chamber 30 as seen in FIG. 4.

An elongated piston 36 is slidably mounted in chamber 30 and includes arearward end 38 and a forward end 40. A rectangular flat ram or ramplate 42 is welded to the forward end 40 of piston 36 as seen in FIG. 4.Bracket or ear 44 is welded to ram 42 and extends rearwardly therefrom.The forward end of a return spring 46 is secured to bracket 44. Therearward end of return spring 46 is secured to a bracket or ear 48 whichis welded to tube 24 so as to extend laterally therefrom. Return spring46 may be a metal spring or an elastic cord such as a bungee cord toyieldably return the ram 42 to the position of FIG. 4. Return spring 46may be enclosed within a tube if so desired.

The numeral 50 refers to an elongated guide rod having a rearward end 52and a forward end 54. The forward end 54 of guide rod extends through anopening 56 in ram 42 and is welded to ram 42. The numeral 58 refers toan elongated guide rod having a rearward end 60 and a forward end 62.The forward end 62 of guide rod 58 extends through an opening 64 formedin ram 42 and is welded to ram 42. The rearward ends of guide rods 50and 58 are welded to a guide collar 66 which slidably embraces tube 24.If so desired, the guide rods 50 and 58 and the guide collar 66 could beomitted.

A stand-off 68 is welded to the forward end of tube 24 as will now bedescribed. The stand-off 68 includes a generally U-shaped orchannel-shaped body 70 including a base portion 72 and spaced-apart legs74 and 76 which extend forwardly from base portion 72. The forward endsof legs 74 and 76 have laterally extending tapered tips 78 and 80thereon respectively. Base portion 72 has a central opening 82 formedtherein which slidably receives piston 36. Collar or sleeve 84 is fixedto tube 24 by a pin or the like. Collar 84 is welded to the rearwardside of base portion 72. Base portion 72 has semi-circular openings 86and 88 formed therein which slidably receive guide rods 50 and 58respectively.

The forcible entry device 22 is used as follows to breach a door 90including a lock 92. The device 16 is threadably removed from the muzzle14 of the weapon 10. Device 22 is threadably secured to muzzle 14 aspreviously described. One or more blank cartridges 18 are inserted intothe magazine or clip of the weapon with one of the cartridges 18 beingchambered.

The stand-off 68 is then positioned relative to the door 90 so that thetapered tips 78 and 80 are positioned against the exterior surface ofthe door 90 on opposite sides of the lock 92. If desired, one of thetapered tips 78 or 80 could be inserted between the side edge of thedoor and the molding extending therearound. The weapon is then fired.The explosive gases from the cartridge are driven into chamber 30 whichdrives the piston 36 and ram 42 from the position of FIGS. 4 and 5 tothe position of FIG. 6 with the ram 42 driving the lock 92 from the doorto breach the door. The explosive gases in chamber 30 are ventedtherefrom through vent opening 34 after the rearward end of piston 36has passed forwardly of vent opening 34. Upon the venting of the gasesfrom chamber 30, the return spring 46 returns the ram 42 from theposition of FIG. 6 to the position of FIG. 4. If the door 90 hasn't beensuccessfully breached during the first attempt, a second cartridge maybe fired to further demolish the door 90 to allow it to be opened.

Thus it can be seen that a truly unique forcible entry device has beenprovided which is convenient and safe to use and which may be quicklyand easily attached to the muzzle of a weapon such as a rifle orshotgun.

Although the invention has been described in language that is specificto certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understoodthat the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarilylimited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, thespecific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing theclaimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can bepracticed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention,the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

I claim:
 1. A door breaching device for use with a weapon capable ofdischarging a blank shell or cartridge so that the explosive gasestherefrom are discharged from the muzzle of the barrel thereof,comprising: an elongated tube having rearward and forward ends; saidrearward end of said tube having an opening formed therein; said forwardend of said tube having an opening formed therein; said tube having achamber formed therein which extends between the openings in saidrearward and forward ends thereof; said rearward end of said tube beingadapted to be selectively secured to the muzzle of the barrel of theweapon so that the explosive gases being discharged from the muzzle willpass through said opening in said rearward end thereof into saidchamber; an elongated piston, having rearward and forward ends, movablymounted between first and second positions in said chamber; said forwardend of said piston extending outwardly from said chamber through saidopening in said forward end of said tube; a ram secured to said forwardend of said piston so as to be positioned outwardly of said forward endof said tube; said ram being movable with said piston between first andsecond positions; a stand-off member including a base plate and firstand second spaced-apart leg portions extending forwardly from said baseplate; said base plate having an opening formed therein; said base platebeing secured to said forward end of said tube so that said opening insaid base plate registers with said opening in said forward end of saidtube to enable said piston to movably extend through said opening insaid base plate; an elongated return spring having rearward and forwardends; said rearward end of said return spring being operatively securedto said tube adjacent said rearward end thereof; said forward end ofsaid return spring being secured to said ram; the discharge of a blankshell or cartridge by the weapon causing the explosive gases therefromto drive said piston from said first position towards said secondposition thereby causing said ram to be driven from said first positionto said second position forwardly outwardly from said stand-off memberinto the door thereby breaching the same; said tube having a gas ventopening formed therein which extends from said chamber outwardly throughsaid tube; said gas vent opening being positioned in said tube wherebythe explosive gases in said chamber will be vented from said tube aftersaid rearward end of said piston has passed thereby and reached saidsecond position; said return spring returning said ram from said secondposition to said first position.
 2. The door breaching device of claim 1wherein each of said leg portions of said stand-off member have a tipportion extending laterally therefrom.
 3. The door breaching device ofclaim 2 wherein each of said tip portions are tapered.
 4. The doorbreaching device of claim 1 further includes a guide collar whichslidably embraces said tube, first and second elongated guide rodshaving rearward and forward ends, said rearward ends of said guide rodsbeing secured to said guide collar, said forward ends of said guide rodsbeing secured to said ram.
 5. In combination: a rifle capable ofdischarging a blank cartridge so that the explosive gases therefrom aredischarged from the muzzle of the barrel thereof; and a forcible entrydevice selectively removably secured to the muzzle of the rifle.
 6. Incombination: a shotgun capable of discharging a blank shell so that theexplosive gases therefrom are discharged from the muzzle of the barrelthereof; and a forcible entry device selectively removably secured tothe muzzle of the rifle.